Last Updated on 2025-08-01 , 2:40 pm
If you’re like me, you’re probably (still) crying over not getting tickets to this year’s NDP, whether it’s for the preview or the actual parade.
But don’t worry; if you still want to soak in the patriotic vibes this National Day, you don’t have to belt out NDP songs alone at home on 9 August. There are other ways to feel the spirit.
This August, three defence museums, the Singapore Discovery Centre, Singapore Navy Museum, and Singapore Air Force Museum, are opening their doors with special programmes to celebrate Singapore’s 60th birthday.
Each museum has something lined up throughout the month. Kids can make their own DIY buttons, go on gallery trail hunts, and take photos in themed booths from different eras of Singapore’s past. Meanwhile, parents can enjoy weekend highlights like dramatised storytelling, live music, and guided bus tours.
And the best part?
It’s all mostly free if you’re a Singaporean or Singapore PR.
Here’s what you need to know.
Journey to the West: Singapore Discovery Centre
Almost all Singaporeans would’ve been to the Singapore Discovery Centre, whether as a student or as an NSF.
But this time, it’s different.
On 2-3 August and 9-10 August, the Singapore Discovery Centre will kick off its Then, Now, Singapore celebration, which includes dramatised storytelling by Pauline Loh and Act 3 International.
Families can also hop on guided Day Zero tour that retrace Singapore’s wartime experience, complete with gallery visits running from 10.30am to 12.30pm on 10 August. Note that for this event, there is a $5 fee.
The venue will also transform into a mini carnival during these weekends, known as the Jalan -Jalan Fair. There will be Kids Electric Motor Car rides through iconic Singaporean landmarks, giant nostalgic games like Pick Up Sticks, Congkak, and Five Stones, and airbrush tattoos.
If you don’t know what they are, ask your parents.
Like performances? There will be live performances throughout the four days at the lobby between from 1:00pm. As for the songs expected…well, I’m guessing you’d hear “Home” at least once. Or twice. Or a million times.
But what if you prefer to visit on other days?
Fret not, because there are month-long events.
Over at the Playground area, you can assemble your own diorama featuring everyday sights from then, now, always, or learn to make an origami orchid and pen your well wishes for Singapore. This will happen from 1 August to 31 August 2025.
If Instagram is your game, then this bus stop will make your day:
Located at the Curve Wall, you can snap a photo here with SingaPaw and trust me, you’ll gain lots of Likes (and your crush might just ask you where you were).
The mascot appearance runs from 16 July to 31 August!
And since you’re there, just do a quest and you can get an exclusive Gold Coin Enamel Pin when you complete a quest called the Jalan-Jalan Quest!
For more information on the events in Singapore Discovery Centre, click here.
Journey to the East: Singapore Navy Museum
Live in the east and think that Singapore Discovery Centre is too far?
I feel you.
Well, there’s the Singapore Navy Museum, which is located all the way to the east, at Tanah Merah.
The Singapore Navy Museum celebrates with the theme, Majulah Singapura, on 9 August and 10 August 2025.
Before you begin, remember to request the Naval Exploration Kit at the reception. Dive into the museum’s rich history, create your own ensign, and enjoy the fun activities in the booklet!
On the two days, there will be DIY button-making workshops from 10am to 3pm. Children can receive Naval exploration kits to discover museum exhibits while creating their own ensigns (but this event is for ALL ages!)
If buttons are not your thing, how about temporary tattoos? Show your love for the Navy (and Singapore) with these free temporary tattoos!
If you want to know more about the Navy, head over to the Navy Ensign at Level 1 on 9 August at 11:00am or 1:00pm, too, whereby ITE College West docents will tell you more about the Navy’s history. Remember, for this event, it’s only for one day (9 August).
Like something more active? There’s also an interactive adventure called Otto’s Tentacle Takeover that sends kids on a mission to help Captain Simon recover six hidden artefacts from the villainous octopus Otto. The storyline casts Otto as an evil genius who has seized control of the museum and hidden priceless exhibits in dark corners!
This will be at level 3, from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
Now, just to recap, the activities run from 10am to 3pm on 9 August and 10 August, except the Navy Ensign that just runs on 9 August.
For more information, click here.
(P.S. There is a shuttle bus from Expo MRT Station to the Navy Museum)
Journey to…The Air: Singapore Air Force Museum
One’s in the west, and one’s the east, so you’re hoping for this to be in the central, right?
Well, kind of: the Singapore Air Force Museum is located at Paya Lebar, which is kind of central lah.
The Singapore Air Force Museum runs Colour the Skies activities on 9 August and 10 August.
Yes, on any usual day, the Singapore Air Force Museum is closed on Sunday, but…they’ve opened up the skies for the National Day weekend.
Love colouring? There would be colouring stations for kids to decorate Super Puma and E-2C Hawkeye aircraft designs!
The colouring stations will take place from 9:00am to 4:00pm at level 1.
It’s National Day, and it’s the Air Force, so of course we’ve to talk about the National Day flypast. Air Force veteran Juay Boon will explain the planning and preparation required to fly the state flag across Singapore’s skies each year, which will happen in Level 1 Theatrette at 11:00am and 2:30pm.
If you’ve always run of out topic to talk about when you see the RSAF flypast, come to this talk, and there will be no awkward silence after that.
Last but not least, do grab this cute word search, featuring artefacts found in the Singapore Air Force Museum. If you complete it, you can redeem an exclusive CPT Ted fan (limited to 200 per day, while stocks last)!
For more information, click here.
Journey to the Heartlands
Prefer to get into the patriotic vibes after National Day? Or you just can’t get enough of “Home”?
You can head to any of the National Day Celebrations at four locations in the heartlands on 10 August, whereby Defence Collective Singapore will hold special National Day Exhibitions called Our Time, Our Journey.
Over there, you can also participate in their activities to redeem Limited Edition National Day Freebies!
Here are the exact locations:
Yishun – Next to Futsal Arena
Punggol – Next to One Punggol
Bishan – Next to Bishan Junction 8
Wisma Geylang Serai – Open field
Now, if you’ve no idea where to go, now you know where to head to, whether it’s west, east or central, or even in the heartlands.
No NDP tickets? No problem.
This article is written in collaboration with Defence Collective Singapore.
